New Laptop

M

marvin4239

New member
I'm in the process of buying a new laptop for the boat. I thought I read somewhere about being able to recieve local tv channels through and antenna without a Wifi connection. Dell tells me this isn't available and they offer something called a slingbox that lets you access your home cable through a wifi connection. This is fine but I'd really like to be able to access area local channels in areas where I don't have a wifi connection. Does such a system exist?

Thanks in advance my computer skills are limited.
marvin
 
Hi Marvin,

We have an EyeTV plug in for our Mac laptop. You can use it to access cable or off-the-antenna TV signals. Haven't really used it much, 'cause it's just as easy to plug in a small TV (and I can still be on the computer). I'm sure someone makes something similar for PCs.

What do you want to do with it?

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
Thanks Jim. I seldom watch TV on the boat but I do have a small one I carry. I thought that I could eliminate it with the lap top if I could get reception through and antenna. I'd like to have that option if it's available for PC's.
 
Thanks Larry I've been reading about a zillion different systems out there. I thought someone might have some real world experience with a particular system. Thanks for the article that should help me make a more informed choice.
 
Hi Marin,

Here's my take on using the laptop as a TV... more work than it's worth. With one of the plug-in tuners, you still have to mess with a set of rabbit ears to get a signal. I thought that I might use it to record shows and then watch when we had no signal... it never worked out that way. We use a small DVD/TV/AM/FM set on the boat when we feel the need for TV. We've gone months without turning it on.

For what one of the plug-in tuners cost, a small TV would be less expensive and easier on the boat. Now, if you were sitting in your office and didn't want anyone to know you were watching your soaps, it might be just the ticket. :mrgreen:

My two pesos.
 
My laptop has the TV tuner installed- all I do is set the rabbit ears up and catch the news.
I have a few days music loaded, so I can listen to music, watch TV or watch a movie on the dvd player.
 
I too would probably go months without turrning on TV. The one I have I paid $9.99 for at the local Walgreen's. It actually works pretty good and recieves am and fm. Since I'm ordering a new lap top I just figured I'd get the tuner built in. With my current cheapo TV I expect it won't work when the signal goes to digital. Main thing is I'm trying to downsize some of the stuff I carry. My recent 12 day trip probably could have gone on for a month with all the clothes and food we carried. I did find out my girlfriend won't eat spam!
 
FWIW the Slingbox is my personal favorite tech gadget. I got one before they were widely available and have used it almost daily, usually from the office. However, on one recent trip out West I was able to watch local news and sports on my Macbook. Indeed, you can watch whatever is on your local TV from anywhere in the world. To kick the setup up a notch I run it through my TIVO so I can also watch archived stuff :thup
 
Which notebook are you buying? I am looking for a new one and plan to upgrade to a 17" screen.

I just watch DVDs and listen to books and music on my notebook.
Just completed Tinker, Tailor, Solider, Spy.
I bought an used iBook to watch movies when flying. Small size and good video
 
ccflyer":3ewnwh07 said:
FWIW the Slingbox is my personal favorite tech gadget. I got one before they were widely available and have used it almost daily, usually from the office. However, on one recent trip out West I was able to watch local news and sports on my Macbook. Indeed, you can watch whatever is on your local TV from anywhere in the world. To kick the setup up a notch I run it through my TIVO so I can also watch archived stuff :thup
Click to expand...

How does it work and control it on the road?
 
Brent I'm buying a Dell 15" screen. It's the Inspiron 1525 model. I've got a Dell home computer and I've had real good service with it. I've got a Toshiba Laptop now that's been real good but it's about 8 years old and pretty dated. My primary reason for the laptop is e-mail on my recent 12 day trip I had over 400 e-mails awaiting me when I got home mostly junk but I had to go through them somewhat individually for fear of deleting something important. Here's a link to the slingbox that explains how it works.

http://www.slingmedia.com/go/slingbox-av
 
Brent if you are asking for my opinion I'm probably one of the least knowledgable people on the planet when it comes to computers. I did look at that model and concluded I wouldn't like the small keyboard but the reviews sound very good and it's certainly cheap enough. Small size would be a plus on the boat. I prefer Dell because they really do have a good help line when things go crazy.
 
I think the label burner comes with the Roxio soft wear that comes loaded on the computer. If you go on the Dell website you can chat with a tech. You tell them exactly what you are interesting in and they configure it and send you a quote. I think they are pretty competative price wise.
 
thataway":347qzgnp said:
The main reason we carry a small flat screen TV is for weather.
Click to expand...

I would like one with reception for weather also. About two weeks ago we spent a night anchored in a small cove off the Saint Johns about 10 miles south of Astor and there was a pretty good blow going about 25 mph. We were well protected from the wind and pretty comfortable but the next morning I found out we were surrounded by tornado warnings and one sighting. Probably a good thing I didn't know there wasn't a lot I could do. Never thought about getting the TV out we spent the evening playing cribbage and shinning the gators on the shore with a spotlight.
 
Marvin, would you please run an experiment for me? See if you can turn on closed captions and read them with the slingbox.

Thanks,
Warren
 
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